Some people lose all respect for the lion unless he devours them

Hear now the words of Will Cuppy, who spoke with keen irony about the nature of mankind: “Some people lose all respect for the lion unless he devours them instantly. There is no pleasing some people.” Though clothed in humor, this saying is no jest alone—it is a mirror held up to the restless heart of humanity, revealing our strange and fickle demands. The lion, symbol of majesty, strength, and awe, is diminished in the eyes of the impatient and the ungrateful, unless it acts according to their narrow expectations. Thus Cuppy shows us the folly of those who cannot see worth unless it is dramatized in violence or spectacle.

The ancients understood this truth well. Consider how the Roman crowds gathered in the Colosseum. They did not come to marvel at the lion as creature of nature, noble and fierce in its very being. No, they clamored for blood. If the beast did not strike swiftly, tearing its prey in an instant, the mob would jeer and mock it, as though its power were nullified by delay. Here we see the essence of the quote: the inability of some souls to respect greatness unless it gratifies their shallow hunger at once. The lion remains the lion, whether devouring or resting, yet in the eyes of the foolish, its worth is measured only by the satisfaction of their craving.

So too in the lives of men and women. Heroes often go unrecognized because their victories are not clothed in thunder and spectacle. The quiet teacher who molds generations is forgotten beside the general who conquers in a day. The healer who labors to restore health receives little praise, while the warrior who slays receives endless glory. Yet both embody courage. The problem lies not in their deeds, but in the blindness of those who demand only the roar, never the stillness. Truly, there is no pleasing some people, for their respect is shallow, conditional, and fleeting.

Reflect on the tale of Galileo Galilei. He brought forth truths about the heavens that shook the order of his age. Yet his discoveries were met not with awe, but with mockery and punishment. Many demanded instant gratification: a truth that was simple, flattering, and convenient. Galileo’s lion was slow to devour, for truth often advances step by step, not in a single leap. And because of this, the impatient and the prideful lost respect for him, blind to the majesty of his pursuit. But time, that great judge, restored his honor, proving that the lion is mighty even when silent.

Thus, my children, take heed: the worth of a thing is not measured by how swiftly it gratifies you. The lion is no less a lion when it pauses. Power, wisdom, and truth do not need the approval of the impatient to remain eternal. Learn to look with deeper eyes, beyond the surface of action, and perceive the greatness that resides in stillness, in patience, and in forms you do not at once understand.

The lesson is clear: do not be among those who demand instant proof before offering respect. Honor others not for the speed of their victories, but for the strength of their essence. See the lion for what it is, not for what it does in the moment. In your own life, resist the temptation to measure worth by spectacle alone. Praise the quiet craftsman, the patient builder, the gentle healer. Learn to cherish those whose greatness is not loud, but steady.

In practice, let your respect be constant, not conditional. When you encounter someone whose work is slow, whose results are unseen, pause and honor the effort rather than the display. Speak words of encouragement to those who labor in silence. Recognize the lion even when it does not roar. In this way, you will rise above the shallow impatience that blinds so many, and walk the path of true wisdom.

For the wisdom of Will Cuppy endures: “Some people lose all respect for the lion unless he devours them instantly.” Be not like those people. See the lion as eternal, majestic, and whole—whether it devours or whether it rests. And in seeing thus, you will learn to honor not only others, but the hidden greatness within yourself.